UK competition body to rule in July on Ryanair/Aer Lingus

UK competition regulators have set a July date for a final decision in its review of the impact of Ryanair's near 30% stake in Irish rival Aer Lingus.

The UK Office of Fair Trading originally referred the case to the UK Competition Commission to consider in 2010, a decision legally challenged by Ryanair.

Meeting shortly after the European Commission blocked Ryanair's third takeover bid for Aer Lingus on competition grounds - a ruling the low-cost carrier is contesting - the Competition Commission has now ended its extension into its probe into the competition impact of Ryanair's 29.8% shareholding. It says its final report will be published on 11 July. A preliminary decision is expected in May.